Magic Maverick
Maverick… AKA… Magic Mav has officially been adopted!!!
Oh man, this boy had such a long recovery but it is such a beautiful thing to witness his healing journey. Maverick was brought in to Stanislaus Animal Services Agency as a stray and given 24 hours to live before being euthanized due to his health condition. A great foster stepped up, drove over 2-hours away, and picked up the very next day for his freedom ride to rescue on September 1, 2022. They started his path to health and did daily medicated baths, massages, ointments, medications, and everything he needed to get better. Maverick made quick friends with their children and was a rock star. Overtime he showed he was dog friendly and even cat friendly. He was such a calm, loving guy, and all he wanted was a safe place to live out the rest of his days.
We got him in to see a dermatologist, got a biopsy of his skin, started some laser therapy for his skin, started him on some steroids and antibiotics, and swapped him to a raw diet with the guidance of our nutritionist, Hannah Zulueta with Daily Dog Food Recipes. Maverick also had some x-rays done to investigate the cause of a subtle limp, and it was found he had a bone carpal in his foot, but given the state of his immune system it was safest to leave it. Maverick did have a relapse at one point which devastated all of us, but the path to healing is always a long one!
Unfortunately, Maverick got into a tiff with one of the foster’s resident dogs. Their dog was known to resource guard, Maverick was on too high a dose of steroids, and while the parents weren’t looking for a short period of time, one of the dogs resource guarded a toy, Maverick defended himself, and it scared the children (understandably so). We attempted to invest in training for the family and their dogs along with Maverick, but when Maverick was moved to a temporary foster home since the family had some urgent travel, they decided it would be best if Maverick was fostered elsewhere.
In applied Maverick’s person, Laura! She applied right on time, and in less than a week she had picked him up and taken him home. On the day that she picked up Maverick, the dermatologist called and informed us that Maverick had an extremely antibiotic resistant Staph infection (MRSP) and needed diluted bleach baths. It was also believed that he had an autoimmune disease called Pemphigus, but the biopsy results were inconclusive. His foster did every thing he needed with no complaint, though she was anxious for him, to get him through the last leg of his healing journey. He was able to slowly come off his steroids, and lower the dose of his other medications over time. Eventually, he was able to be neutered and deemed ready for adoption.
At the time of his neuter, the surgeon removed a growth on his penis and sent it off for biopsy. Just when we thought he was at the end of his time with us, we had to wait for the results to ensure it wasn’t cancerous, if it was, then he would become a hospice foster. Unfortunately, the results did not come in our favor, Maverick’s mass showed to be a malignant cancer called Hemangiosarcoma. BUT the surgeon also reported she got clean margins and he was cancer FREE! There will always be a risk of reoccurrence, but he was cleared to continue his journey and live out his life with Laura as hers officially. Since he was a major medical foster, and his home was approved by adoptions as the perfect one for him, she met all foster fail policy requirements and adopted him. Maverick will spend the rest of his days loved, on the beach, with loads of sunscreen on his undercarriage while he soaks up the sun. We are honored to be a part of his healing journey and we are beyond thankful for all the work and medical care his fosters have given him since day one.
Happy Tails!
“You know when the path you are walking is healing you because you stop looking back at what happened, and start looking forward to what’s coming.”